Dental tray.



No. 857,240. PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907. J. A. HENNING. DENTAL TRAY. APPLIUATION FILED 0UT.1, 1906.

/f 6 18 64c] 6 6 6 J 2 v i 2 2O x 9 6 4 22 j/j Z III "I'll. l-"I'J lI 'A I 17 311:4.

mvewtoz qn/fwmaoeo I I /ZbG/Wl/y.

THE NORRIS PETERS 0a wasamamn, a. c

JAMES A. HENNING, OF BEARDSTOWN, ILLINOIS,

DENTAL TRAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1907.

Application filed October 1, 1906. $erial No. 336,933.

To aid whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. HENNING, a citizen of the United States, risiding at Beardstown, in the'county of Cass and Si ate of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trays; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and ex act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in trays for the use of dentists, and more particularly to one adapted for holding instruments, such as excavators, chisels, mouth mirrors and similar instruments.

The object of the invention is to provide a tray of this character having compartments and supports in and upon which dental instruments of various kinds may be conveniently supported,'so that'they may be readily selected and picked up by the user, and so that they may be thoroughly sterilized when the tray is placed in a sterilizing cabinet.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed. I

In the accompanying draWings,Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved tray; Figs. 2 and 3 are longitudinal sectional views through the same; and Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view. I

The tray 1 is preferably of rectangular form and of such size that it can be used in connection with other trays on the top of a dentists bracket table. It is also preferably constructed of metal, so that it can be used in a sterilizing cabinet such as the one set forth in Patent No. 793582 issued to me June 27, 1905. The tray consists of a bottom 2, perforated, as at 3, and provided with a surrounding side wall 4. Extending longitudinally in the tray, adj acent to one of its sides, is a vertical partition 5, and arranged between the latter and the adjacent side are a plurality of transverse partitions 6. These partitions divide the interior of the tray into a large compartment 7 and a plurality of smaller compartments 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. The large compartment 7 is adapted to re ceive excavators, chisels, mouth mirrors and other long or handled instruments used by dentists, and in order to support them so that their points are elevated in position to be readily selected by the user and thorsupport 13 is arranged in the'compartment 7 upon its bottom. This partition 13 has its upper edge formed with a plurality of seats 14, in which the instruments rest and by means of which they are spaced apart to facilitate their selection and removal by the dentist. The smaller compartment 8 is designed to hold absorbent cotton, or like material, and is preferably provided with a detachable closure 16 of relatively coarse mesh wire screening, to protect the contents of the compartment and enable it to be removed in small quantities, only as required.

The compartments 9, 1O, 11 and 12 are provided With inclined floors 17, 18, 19 and .20, the floors having central longitudinally extending ribs 21, 22, 23 and 24. The upper edges of the partitions 6 are provided with spaced notches to support the instruments or parts of instruments which are disposed in the compartments, these instruments being the burs and'stones used in the preparation of cavities for filling and similar instruments. By this means, the smaller instruments are retained in separated condition in convenient position to be selected and removed by the dentist when required. The notches also maintain the implements separated while in the sterilizing apparatus, so that every portion is reached by the sterilizing material.

It will be observed that by the use of this tray, the various instruments and articles used by dentists may be grouped and supported, so that they may be conveniently selected and thoroughly sterilized when the tray is placed in a sterilizing cabinet. The perforated bottom of the tray permits the sterilizing medium to pass through the same and to entirely envelop the instruments which are supported, so that the medium Will reach every part of the same.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion,

and the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

In the practice of this invention, a pluoughly sterilized, a longitudinally extending rality of the trays Will be provided, each tray having its own set of implements, so that a fresh sterilized set of the implements may be available for. each customer Without delay, one of the trays With its implements being deposited in the sterilizing apparatus While the other is being used. One of the trays provided With spaced notches in their upper edges.

2. A dental instrument tray for use in sterilizing cabinets comprising a body having a perforated bottom and surrounding side Walls, partitions in the body dividing itinto compartments of unequal sizes, some of said compartments having inclined floors each provided With a' central longitudinal rib, and the partitions adjacent to the floors being provided With spaced notches in their upper edges, and one of the compartments beingprovided With a forarninous cover.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JAMES A. HENNING. Witnesses: by

H. L. PAPPMEIER, S. F. SOAROLIFF. 

